Our experiences and learnings from the Digital Commerce and Media industry

Harish Bahl

Harish Bahl, Founder & CEO of Smile talks about the four risks that any investor tries to mitigate when they look for investing in a startup business.

A business model is an important aspect to consider. One must check for its viability and soundness. There are various examples of good companies with good ideas that had to shut shop because of an unviable business model. Continue reading →

I recently read an article describing India’s unprecedented e-commerce growth as a “primed-up athlete finally hitting his full stride.” And indeed, digital augmentation has revolutionised the nation’s e-commerce ecosystem by unlocking India’s potential on various fronts, making it one of the most preferred destinations for global retailers. But is India sitting on the cusp of an e-commerce bubble or will the growth multiply?

As India treads the path to become the fastest growing startup economy in the world, international commercialisation offers an untapped opportunity that can change the trajectory of India’s internet entrepreneurship ecosystem. This potentially strong approach opens new horizons for Indian startups to become known as a home-grown internationally acclaimed organisation(s).

Commercialisation internationally offers tremendous opportunity that can change the trajectory of internet companies. This route has great after-effects such as the pull created on AAA talent and quality investors. Given the potential and the maturity, developed markets such as Canada or West Europe were the first choice for internationalisation given opportunities across emerging markets like India or South East Asia, appeared smaller. However, does the trend still hold true today?

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a founder and looking to raise pre-seed capital, then you are definitely stepping into the most attractive period of your entrepreneurial journey. Commonly known as the first stage of venture funding, pre-seed funding builds a strong foundation to kick-start a startup business. While some startups may not require this funding at all, however, others may end up going through several rounds.